The image is Bugaboo's Winter wishes tag with a little colour from Promarkers and gems.

The papers I have used are from my scraps and the lace is from Paperchase.

Well I started with Stampin' Dragons so I will finish with them...

I am just about to set off for Australia for Christmas and we will be staying in a holiday house - so I have to pack some decorations...I started this bunting for last year but decided the bells were not enough - for this year I have added the buttons...

Monday, 16 December 2013

During the last 7 or 8 years, while my husband and I lived in Abu Dhabi,we were involved in Abu Dhabi Dramatic Society.

We did perform on stage but our main occupation for ADDS was backstage, providing props and set building...

I thought I would share some of our favourite makes!!This year's pantomime has just been performed in Abu Dhabi - without us! - but that made me think about last year.This picture shows me ironing some fabric to start making the coach for Cinderella.

And here is the finished article - a sort of stretch-limo kind of coach. Pulled of course by a camel - we WERE in Abu Dhabi! And this is where Kevin and I were involved again!!

We often needed puppets or props made from papier mache for the pantos.

But I was very pleased with this 'scissors in the back' prop that I made for one play...

...and I loved doing this 'big stamping' for the set of another!

Some of our favourite FX used dry ice - here we have 'smoking shoes'!

I wish I could find the video of our tightrope walker...a stuffed pair of pink tights wearing ballet shoes 'walked' across a tight rope! All done with fishing wire!But this had to be our finest hour...the pantomime shark which Kevin and I both got inside and frightened the kids!!

Sunday, 15 December 2013

During 2013, these butterflies and rosettes have almost become my trademarks.

The rosettes are from a Tim Holtz die, the butterflies from Stampin Up's 'Beautiful Wings' tied together in a group of three. I tend to glue on just one wing of the butterfly to add some dimension.

I have used some of the butterflies on this butterfly shaped card, having first used papers from my scraps to cover it.The paperclip bow I made with help from a My Chicnscratch tutorial.The Happy Birthday I stamped into a little tablet some time ago - I found it in my 'bit box'!At this time of year though I find myself making little gift boxes...

This was not a Christmassy one - basically the Long Triangle box from Sissix decorated with various embellishments.

Initially I matted and layered a darker turquoise cardstock onto a turquoise card blank followed by a piece of white card stock embossed with 'Swiss dots'. I had already added a little piece of twine between the layers. I used some more of the darker turquoise and white to die cut some Sissix 'Mittens'. I glued these in place and added buttons with glue dots. I then added the banner with sparkly letters spelling 'Noel'.